UNC Basketball vs. Clemson: Game preview, info, prediction and more

The UNC Basketball program looks to continue their hot play as they hit the road Tuesday for a date with Clemson.

After having a rare week of right in the heart of the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, the Tar Heels are hoping to make it seven wins in their last eight games as they take on a reeling Tigers team that is fresh off a drubbing at Duke. Clemson enters this game at 10-5 overall but are just 4-5 in conference play. They dropped a road game at Duke on Saturday 79-53 and are losers of four of their last five.

The Tar Heels? Well, they are trending the opposite direction.

Following their 0-2 start in conference play, UNC is 6-1 in their last seven games and have rebounded well from that poor start. They are riding a three-game win streak into this matchup right before their weekend showdown with Duke. But UNC can’t overlook this Clemson team despite the two sides going their opposite ways.

The Tigers are still a good team that has some quality wins this year and will be motivated following an embarrassing loss to Duke. However, UNC should have the advantage in the post with their bigs and would wise to run their offense through the bigs.

If UNC can do that, they should come away with the victory.

Key to Victory for UNC

Go through the bigs and let them dominate. UNC’s trio of Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot and Day’Ron Sharpe should have the big advantage in this one. Both Bacot (12.6)  and Brooks (10.6) are averaging double digits in points  while Sharpe is just below the number at 9.3 points per game. In addition to that, all three are averaging over 7 rebounds per game, establishing their position in the paint.

With a rotation of those three plus Walker Kessler, UNC has that advantage in the post in both scoring and rebounding. This could really be the difference maker in the game as the Tar Heels should look to get the bigs involved early and often.

It could be another strong game for Bacot who is really turning into one of the better players in the conference. Can he keep up his strong play?

Something to Watch

While Bacot has emerged as a legit contender for All-ACC, it’s the freshman Caleb Love that has really upped his game as of late and it’s made a difference. Love started this season off struggling to shoot from the floor and especially at the three-point line. But over the past few weeks, he’s really elevated his game.

Love is averaging 10.4 points per game this season but has scored in double digits in two of his last three games including a career-high 20 against Wake Forest. He’s also shooting a lot better from the floor, going over 40% from the field in three of his last four games.

With Love playing better, UNC’s offense has received a boost and is better.

What you need to know

WHAT? North Carolina (11-5, 6-3 in ACC) at Clemson (10-5, 4-5 in ACC)
WHEN? Tuesday, February 2nd, 7 p.m. ET
WHERE? Littlejohn Coliseum
TV? ACCN
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
LINE? N/A
LAST MEETING? Clemson beat UNC 79-76 on January 11th, 2020
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 121-21
PREDICTION? UNC 73, Clemson 70

For more on the UNC Basketball program including a recap of this game, please check back with Keeping It Heel.